Bread Pudding

3 eggs
1/3 c. sugar
2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. nutmeg
2 t. cinnamon
grated lemon rind and juice from 1/2 lemon
up to 1/2 raisins or dates
opt. 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
opt. 1 diced banana
3-4 c. stale or fresh bread
3 c. milk, scalded

Bring milk just to a boil. Cut or tear up bread into sections and lay out loosely in a large baking pan. Pour milk over the bread. In a small bowl, beat eggs, add vanilla, lemon juice, and spices and mix well. Fold egg mixture and fruit into the bread and milk. Place a large pan of water in the bottom of the oven and the bread pudding pan in the center. Bake 45 min. at 350 or until remaining liquid is boiling, edges are browned, and center is cooked (bananas may prevent knife test from working).

Serve with cream sauce or hard sauce

Hard sauce

1/2 c. butter or margerine
1 c. powdered sugar
2. t brandy or whiskey

opt. 1 egg white

For a fluffier frosting, beat egg white until fluffy. Mix butter and sugar until smooth. Add brandy. Add egg whites if desired